Green Mountain Care
Yesterday, Governor Peter Shumlin signed a bill into law that establishes Green Mountain Care and makes Vermont the only state on a path towards universal coverage for all its residents.
Rachel Bates
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Families without insurance unable to afford medical bills
The federal government recently released a report with staggering conclusions. It shows that few families without health insurance have the financial resources to pay potential hospital bills. On average, uninsured families have the resources to pay the bills in full for only12 percent of the hospital stays that they may experience. Families USA’s own study estimated that the uninsured received approximately $116 billion of care in 2008 and were able to pay for only 37 percent of this care out of their own pockets.
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Health Reform’s Gifts for Mom
In a recent article for the Center for American Progress, Sandra Bogar reminded us of all of the ways that health reform benefits mothers, mothers-to-be, and grandmothers. Even when it’s not Mother’s Day, it’s important to be grateful for how much our mothers help us and others and to be thankful that they are now protected by the Affordable Care Act.
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On cervical cancer prevention
Each year about 12,000 women in the United States are diagnosed with cervical cancer and about 4,000 American women die from the disease. While this number has decreased over the last few decades, it should be drastically lower because cervical cancer is easily treated and prevented.
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Good news for recent college graduates
With college graduations quickly approaching, there will be a new wave of young adults looking for jobs. Graduation also means that these same adults will have to start making payments on their student loans. But because the job market makes it difficult to find jobs, it is also means it’s difficult for these recent grads to make these often hefty payments. Which begs the question: If they’re having trouble paying their loans how could they possibly afford expensive premiums?
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Health Coverage Still Tough To Get For Individuals
A recent report released by Commonwealth Fund, a health care advocacy group, found that nearly three-quarters of Americans who tried to buy insurance on the individual market in the last three years faced obstacles that prevented them from getting affordable coverage. More than one-third said they were turned down, charged a higher premium, or offered a plan that didn’t cover a pre-existing condition.
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Health Care and You
A new website offers a clickable interactive map with statistics about how the Affordable Care Act has and will affect the residents each state. The site, HealthCareandYou.org, is sponsored by national health care organizations such as AARP, American Cancer Society, and the American Medical Association. You can learn things about your state or click on a friend’s to see what’s happening there.
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Surgeon General Previews Preventive Health Strategy
A recent article by Charles Fiegl reports that U.S. Surgeon General Regina Benjamin has drafted a strategy focused on preventive health care. It is important that Americans stay healthy as we approach 2014, when tens of millions of currently uninsured Americans will gain health insurance.
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Conservatives face a harsh reality
Conservative lawmakers may not be so tough after all. After every single House Republican voted to repeal the Affordable Care Act last month, 16 Republican freshmen have declined their government health benefits to prove a political point. But it looks like the joke might be on them.
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Tea party justice?
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